Concrete form



`June 23, 1931. l. w. LxTcHFlELD 1,811,398

CONCRETE FORM Filed Nov. 25, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 1 A 5x2', l' f1' 5:2zam/21 ,l ii 1:l HH :ff J5 JV/'F-f/ {MN l L4.; (J4 ai! June 23, 1931. l.w. LlTcHFlELD CONCRETE FORM June 23, 1931. l. w. LITCHFIELD CONCRETEFORM Filed NOV. 25, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lela? JSM' y June 23, 1931. w.LlTcHFlELD CONCRETE FORM Filed Nov. 25. 192'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 nyezor'@W Mylar/Y Mittag@ Patented `lune 23, 1931 Urrsu stares mister lorriesISAAC W. LITCHFIELD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BEMISINDUSTRIES INC., F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARECONCRETE FORM Application led November 25, 1927. Serial No. 235,439.

This invention relates to a form designed to receive poured concrete forthe construction of concrete walls, partitions, founda tions, and thelike.

This form comprises standardized members ywhich are adapted to berapidly and easily assembled and to be quickly removed from the concreteafter the same has set. The form is self-supporting and 'does notnecessitate the driving of uprights or stakes into the ground nor theuse of auxiliary braces.

The type of structure disclosed herein is adapted to be assembled ofstandardized parts which are preferably dimensioned according to amodular system, although the size of the parts obviously may be variedto suit individual requirements. With the eX- ception of smallinexpensive metal tie members and standard threaded nuts, all of theparts of the form may be used over and over again, it only beingnecessary to replace these tie members and nuts which remain embedded inthe concrete Wall.

One advantageous aspect of the invention relates to the ease with whichthe mold boards may be moved upwardly or removed entirely as theconcrete adjoining the lower part of the wall takes its initialset inorder to permit facing of the green concrete while it is somewhat softand easy stripping of the mold boards from the face of the concrete.Connecting members and ties for this form may be easily adjusted to themost desirable height in order to permit effective bracing for the formunder the particular conditions for which it is being used.

The above and further advantageous features of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the subjoineddescription and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

V Fig. 1 is a broken side elevational view of a concrete formexemplifying the preferred y embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line QQ of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detailed elevational view of an adjustable brace whichpermits variation in in the width of the form;

' Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in sect-ion and partly in elevation ofpart of the assembly shown in Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view corresponding to F ig. but showing anembodiment of thel invention wherein the sides of the form are at afixed distance;

Fig. 'i' is a horizontal section through the form construction used atthe corner of a wall, partition or foundation;

Fig. 8 i. similar view of another type Of corner construction;

F 9 is a detailed elevational view of the fastening' means for a tie;

Fig. 10 is a similar view of another type of fastening means;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a broken elevational view of a portion of a formconstruction;

Fig. 13 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section;

Fig. 1e is a similar view of a corner assembly Fig. 15 is an elevationalview of a bracket which is shown in Fig. 13;

F ig. 16 is a sectional view of the cam mounting;

Fig. 17 is a detail LView of an attachment for varying the effectivelength of thelower ties;

F ig. 18 is a sectional view of the corner of the wall assembly; and

Fig. 19 is an elevational view of a corner assembly.

A concrete form of the type illustrated in the accompanying drawingscomprises pairs of metal uprights 1 which preferably are ofI-cross-section. These uprights are spaced apart at such a distance thattheir inner faces substantially define the width of the wall that is tobe poured within the form. In order to hold the uprights 1 in positionupon the ground or upon the foundation .where the wall is to be poured,I provide a series of longitudinal tie members 2. Preferably the basesof the members 1 are provided with outstanding ears 8 which haveopenings to receive the down-turned ends l of tiesl2 which maybe formedof Wire of fairly heavy cross section. In order 'accurately to determinethe position of the lovverV ends of uprights l, l provide the metalties7, Fig. 3. These ties preferably are provided with upturned endportions 8 Which may' terminate in the inturned extremity 9. An openingis provided in-each of the end portions '8 to receive a suitablefastening bolt l0, While the arrangement of-theflange l9 and the bodyportion of the tie prevents the fastening nut l1 from turning on thebolt When-the upright is secured to the end of the tie. Prefen ably themid portion ofthe tie is provided Witlrasmall opening l2 Which isextremely useful in centering the form and locating the 'VI-beamsinaccurate longitudinal alignment.l

endy portions I 'lhe upperends of uprights l are connected by thetransverse braces 20. These members preferably are of metal and areprovided with ed slidably to engageY the outer faces of the I-members.

' 22, to provide lugsengaging edges of the outer lianges of theYuprights so that the end portions of the member 20 are adapted ineffeotto enclose the I-beam vand to be slidably mounted thereon.

In order to maintain the member 20 in fixed position upon the -beamsupon Which it rout of locking position byztapping Aa hammer or similarimplement.' Vrojecting 28 which are adapted to be isv mounted, lrprovide the cam-like locking members 25. These members are pivotallysecured by bolts 26 to the intermediate portion of the member 20 andhave curved faces forced against the inner faces of members l, thusfirmly gripping these members between the locking elel ment-s y,and theend portions 2l of members 20. The members 25 may be brought into andthem With outvvardlyfrom each of the members 2l are the ears 29 whichareprovidedvvith openings 30 to receive the down-turned end portions 3l*i of longitudinal ties 32,

vided properly to space and position the ends Thus means are prof of theIv-members transversely and longitudinally in order to compose aself-supporting framework therewith. y

Ofttimes it is desirable to provid-e a form of this character Which maybe utilized for ,the pouring of Walls of various standardizeddimensions, for example, 8, 10, or l2,inclies. For this purposel providetransverse braces l similar to the members 20 but permitting theadjustment of Figs. l and 5 illustrate in detail such a type ofconstruction, it being understood that the lower ties 7 may be providedin various standf ardized lengths to correspond to the variousV"adjustable Widths 'of the upper transverse connecting members. YReferring particularly to Figs. l and 5 of the drawings, the uprights 2lextending at rightangles tov the body portion of the member 2O andadapt- The extremities of the memberf r20 maybe inturned, as designatedby numeral the form to different Widths.

l are of the character previouslyrdescribe'd and one end of thetransverse brace 40 1s provided with an end portion 2l and flange 22like that of member 20. The other end of member l0, however, extendsoutwardly in Va substantially straight direction and receives aprojection Zi6.adapted to fit Within one of aV series of openingsv i7 inmember 40. The shoulders 43' are formed upon the outstanding portion ellof the bracket which is provided with a face e9 to engage the outerfaceof one of the uprights l. llVhenfthe bracket 42 is not engagedagainstthe member l, it is adapted loosely to slide along the bodyportion of the cross brace, the relative position of parts el?) and l5permitting the removal. of the nub 46 from opening 4:7, as indicated inthe dot and dash lines. When theoutstandv portion ell of the bracket isbrought into abutting engagement With the outer face of the upright, theportion Ll5 ispressed inward against the member l0 and the projection 46is held in interfitting engagement with opening 47 ,movement of themember 25 to lookin position serving to retain the brac-liet in firmengagement with theupright, Y`asv shown in Fi gs. e and 5. Cam-likelocking members 25 are provided firmly to hold the upper ends of VtheLinembers l against the end port-ion 2l of brace ZlO'and yagainstbracket 42, it being evident that a plurality of openings are providedto receive the bolt 2bV for the locking member adjoining theV adjustablebracket; thus, when the form Vis adjusted to 'its position of'maxi'mumWidth, the bel*-L 26y ymay be located in an opening Which is ada ated toreceive the locking projeetionfll upon bracket 42 when the form isadjusted Vto one of its narrower positions.

Forni b kards 50 are adaptedto'be'jlocated With their ends slidablymounted in the chanknels formed between the flanges of -members l, asshown. lreferably the vertical corner of the fo 1m board which engagesthis .flange i-s out away, as designated by numeral 5l. ln order to holdthe,v form boards in firm position in relation to the unridhts l I rol l:a a

vide'locking members 53 which are vpivotally mounted upon the bolts 5ethat pass through the form boards. 'These locking members are providedwith Wedgerlike ends which are adapted to be forced into engagement Withthe flanges of tiel-beam in order rigidly to hold the Aform boardsl inposition, it being evident. that the locking members can be moved intoand out of operative position by' tapping with a hammer lor similartool. It is further evident that the form boards are separate anddistinct from the locking means for the framework of the concrete formso that their movement to differentA vertical positions in relation tothe form does not necessitate any change in theV self-supportingframework of the formitself but merely loosening andtightening of themembers 53.

Fig. 7 illustrates one type of form construction used where the cornerof a wall, foundation, or the like is to be poured within the form. rlheuprights 1, tie members 7, etc.

are erected adjoining the corner in the usualV manner, but the formboard-s at the corner are of special form and are designated by numerals60 and 61 respectively. These form boards preferably have ends cut away,as desf ignated by numeral 51, in order to engage the flanges of theI-beams but have their adjoining ends rabbeted, as designated by numeral62, in order to permit their interlitting engagement at the inner andouter corners of the proposed wall. The form boards G0, 61 are eachprovided with'locking members 53 similar to those previously describedfor securing the mold boards to theI-beams. At

Vet() the'inner corner of the form a suitable diagonal Vtie 64 isprovided to connect ears 3 upon the I-members, a similar member beingprovided to connect the ears 29 at the upper ends of the I-members, ifdesired. At the outer corner of the form I preferably provide an uprightangle member 66 to hold the rabbeted portions of form boards G0 in firminterlitting engagement. Preferably the tie 67 is adapted to extendabout the angle member 66 connecting the ears upon the I-beams at theouter faces of the wall in the manner shown.

Fig.v 8 shows another form of corner construction in which short moldboards or form boards 70 deiine the outer faces of the corner section ofthe proposed wall, these mold boards having both ends received inI-members 1 in the conventional manner. At the outer corner of the wall,however, these I- uprights 1 are arranged so that their inner facesdefine the corner of the wall to be poured. Between the webs of thesemembers 1, I arrange certain corner pieces 72 which may be of angularmetal castings. Preferably the members l at this portion of the con*struction may be drilled, as designated 'by numeral 7 3,'in order toreceive screws 74 with Y countersunk heads, which secure them to themembers 72. VShort diagonal ties 7 5 may connect theV ears at the outersides of these Iv-beams. I preferably provide a illerpiece 7 5 which maybe bolted to the web of one of the I-beams in order accurately to definethe inner face of the wall to be poured. If desired,-I may provide theshort wire connections or ties 7 9 to extend diagonally betweenl theears upon the inner corner of the form.

Figs. 9 and 1l show one manner of securing the tie members firmly inplace upon theears of the I-members or of the braces 20, the numeral 3these ears with an opening therein of somewhat'larger diameter than thediameter of the tie 82. The down-turned end portion 8 4 of the tie isadapted to be received in the opening 80 and is provided with a flangedover extremity 35 which defines a recess or groove S6 to be pressed intointerlocking en gagement with one edge of the opening 30. The flattenedwedge-like member 37, which maybe a suitably shaped nail or brad, isdesigned to be driven between the down-turned portion 84 and theopposite side wall of opening 80 in order to effect this interlockingengagement.y Fig. 10 illustrates a similar construction in which the endportions 34 of the tie 82 are offset from the body portion thereof, asdesignated by numeral 89.

It is evident that a concrete form of this character is adapted rapidlyto be assembled of standardized units in order to permit the pouring' ofconcrete walls, foundations, or partitions and that it may be quicklyassembled and disassembled in order to permit its use in otherlocations. A concrete form of this character may preferably be erectedby i'irst locating the braces 20 adjoining the ends of pairs ofI-members l, it being understood that the position of these braces maybe varied to suit the particular uses of the form p to be erected, andthat, if desired, more than one set of members 20 may be used for eachset of uprights; thus there might be more than two longitudinal tiemembers between the upright-s 1. The ties 7 may then be bolted to thebase portions of the uprights 7. The pairs of uprights, as thus securedtogether by members 7 and 20, may then be moved to a vertical position,and their lower ends be secured together by the longitudinal tie members2, while the ties 32 are engaged with ears 29 in order accurately todetermine the longitudinal placing and positioning of the pairs ofuprights.

In Fig. 12 the I-members 101 and form boards 50 correspond in general tothose illustrated in Fig. 1. The cams 153 correspond to cam's 53 butdiffer therefrom in detail as will be described below. The longitudinalties 102 adjoining the lower portion of this form merely comprise barelements having hooked ends that are adapted to be entered in notches103 of I-members 101 and then dropped into place as shown in Fig. 12.

The upper longitudinal connecting factors for this form comprise rangers132 Awhich are preferably angle members having notches 133 upon theirlower margins spaced at modular distances and adapted to engage bracketsconnected to the uprights. These brackets are designated in general bynnmeral 150 and are each provided with an upstanding portion 151 havingan opening 152 designating in general one of ground, or other suitablebase. When the concrete has set sufiicinetly the form may bedisassembled, the bolts 10 being removed from the nuts ll to leave themembers 7 embedded within the cementitious material with their ends 8flush with the faces of the wall.

I claim:

l. A concrete form comprising pairs of uprights, uprights of each pairbeing disposed at opposite sides of a space to be filled by pouring,form boards extending between the uprighs, vertically extending channelsin the uprights receiving the form boards, locking means engaging thechannel walls to hold the beards inplace, transverse ties securing eachpair of uprights to each other and comprising parts abutting the outersurfaces of the uprights, and swinging cam-like members for holding theuprights outwardly against said parts of the transverse ties.

2. A concrete form comprising uprights of I-section arranged at eitherside of the space to be filled by pouring, form boards extending betweenthe uprights, locking means engaging the uprights to hold the boards inplace, transverse ties securing opposite uprights to each other andcomprising members extending about the outer surfaces of the uprights,and swinging cam-like members for holding the uprights outwardly againstthe transverse ties.

A self-supporting concrete form comprising uprights, forni boardsextending between the uprights, vertically extending channels in theuprights receiving the form boards and locking means engaging thechannel walls to hold the boards in place, transverse ties securinguprights to each other and comprising members extending about the outersurfaces of the uprights, and means combined with the transverse tiesfor engaging longitudinal connections between the uprights, saidtransverse ties being vertically l slidable upon the uprights, and saidform boards being` vertically slidable in the channels.

4. A concrete form comprising uprights, vertically extending channels inthe uprights, form boards adapted to extend between the upright-s withtheir ends located within the channels, locking means upon the boardsadapted to engage the channel walls to hold ythe boards in position, thechannel boards and locking mea-ns being so arranged that the boards maybe disposed with their ends within the channels by fitting one end ofeach board in loose engagement with one channel and subsequentlylocating the opposite end of the board in the other channel.

5. A concrete form comprising flanged uprights affording channels ateither side of the space to be poured, form boards having theirInoldfaces substantially flush with the mold faces of the uprights andhaving their ends engageable in the channels, locking means engaging theouter flanges of the channels, the length of said form boards being lessthan the distance between the bight surface of one channel and theflange edge of the adjoining channel, whereby the boards may behorizontally removed upon release of the locking means.

6. A concrete form comprising uprights, form boards extending 'betweenthe uprights, vertically extending channels in the uprights receivingthe form boards and arranged and proportioned with respect thereto topermit direct removal ef the boards in a horizontal direction withoutnecessity of vertical movement and locking means engaging the cha-nnelwalls to hold the boards in place.

7. A concrete form comprising a plurality of uprights arranged atopposite sides of a space to be filled by pouring, form boards extendingbetween the uprights, said uprights comprising webs extendingtransversely to the form boards and pairs of oppositely dis posedflanges defining a channel which receives the adjacent form board, andmovable cams carried by the form boards, a movable cam being` adapted toextend into the channels of the upright and being engageable with theinner face of a flange of the upright or forcing the form board againstthe opposite flange of the upright.

8. A concrete form comprising a plurality of uprights of I section, theflanges of the same having inclined inner faces, form 'boards extendingbetween the uprights, the end of a form board extending wit-hin thechannel defined by the flanges of an upright, and a ro tatable camcarried by a form board and engagea-ble with the inner` inclined face ofone of the flanges of the uprights for forcing the form board againstthe opposite flange of the upright. Y

9. A self-supporting concrete form comprising pairs of uprights, theuprights of each pair being arranged at opposite sides of a space to befilled by pouring, form boards retained by the uprigh'ts, transverseties securing opposite uprights to each other and comprising membersslidably engaging t-he opposite outer sides of opposite uprights, cammeans for adjustably retaining said transverse ties at desired levelsand longitudi nal ties connecting adjacent transverse ties,independently of said uprights.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this twenty-first day ofNovember, 1927.

ISAAC W. LTCHFIELD.

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